Access array keys returned by a function without an variable

Question

I have created a function in that style:

execQuery("SELECT id FROM contadeusuario WHERE session='$sessao'")['numRows']

I always use this syntax, but in the latest projects, when I upload them to production, it doesn't work.

execQuery(string $query) returns an array with ['status'], ['result'] e ['numRows'], in the other servers I have to attribute the value to a variable.

$NR = execQuery("SELECT id FROM contadeusuario WHERE session='$sessao'");

and then use

$NR['numRows']

How can I configure my server so it always work like in the first way? I have looked for an option in the .ini files and forums, but didn't find anything

Answer 1

As you can see in the manual, array dereferencing is available only on PHP 5.4 and above. (See the new features for PHP 5.4)

<?php
function getArray() {
    return array(1, 2, 3);
}

// on PHP 5.4
$secondElement = getArray()[1];

// previously
$tmp = getArray();
$secondElement = $tmp[1];

// or
list(, $secondElement) = getArray();
?>

Your production server uses a PHP version inferior to 5.4, so you should either upgrade it or stick to temporary variables.